Noble Aspirations

Season One

Zhang Xiaofan (Li Yifeng), who along with childhood friend Lin Jingyu (Cheng Yi), are the sole survivors of a village massacre. The two are later accepted into the Qingyun Sect (Noble Sect), where they learn the ways of the Immortal Sword. Although he is hardworking and determined, Xiao Fan struggles to catch up to his peers due to his slow wit. One day, he acquires a "dementor sword" by chance when he was training in the mountains.

During the martial arts competition held within Noble Sect, Xiao Fan enters the Top 4. Together with Lu Xueqi (Yang Zi) and company, they went to the Bat Cave in Mt Kong San to investigate the trails of the demonic sect. There, Xue Qi meets with danger but was saved by Xiao Fan, leading the two of them to become closer. Pivotal circumstances made Xiao Fan grow and mature. Along the journey, he also meets Bi Yao (Zanilia Zhao), daughter of the Ghost King. Their relationship also slowly grows and took a meaningful turn through these difficult times.

However, the villainous Ghost King attempts to overthrow the Noble Sect, and Xiao Fan gets his life on the line. Bi Yao sacrifices herself to save him, falling into an endless sleep.

Season Two

After Bi Yao sacrificed her life to protect Zhang Xiaofan, she falls into an endless sleep. Devasted and vengeful, Xiaofan decides to devote his entire life to saving her. He enters the Ghost King faction, and becomes his right-handed man Gui Li, also known as "Lord of Blood".

Main Cast

Li Yifeng as Zhang Xiaofan (张小凡) / Gui Li (鬼厲)

Roy Wang as young Zhang Xiaofan

Determined and loyal, Zhang Xiaofan is a hardworking man with average skills; but because of fate, he is able to learn the cultivation from Fu (Buddhist), Dao (Taoist), and Mo (Heretics); and becomes the world's number one swordsman.

Zanilia Zhao as Bi Yao (碧瑶)

Daughter of the Ghost King; Bi Yao is beautiful, elegant and bright. A noble girl who can do anything for love, she died for Zhang Xiaofan under the Zhu Xian Sword, causing the transformation of his lifetime.

Yang Zi as Lu Xueqi (陆雪琪)

Said to be a "fairy from nine skies" for her beauty that can enchant the entire country, Lu Xueqi is one of the most skillful and talented disciples of the Noble Sect. She falls for Zhang Xiaofan after undergoing life and death situations with him.

Supporting Cast

Cheng Yi as Lin Jingyu (林惊羽)

Wang Junkai as young Lin Jingyu

Zhang Xiaofan's childhood friend; he is an intelligent man with extraordinary qualifications. A student of Reverend Cangsong when he first comes to Noble Sect, he later learns swordsmanship from master Wan Jianyi and becomes adept with the Zhan Long sword. He likes Jin Ping'er.

Qin Junjie as Zeng Shushu (曾书书)

The future chief of Yu Du City, and Zhang Xiaofan's good friend. Humorous and carefree; he stands out among the disciples due to his popularity and talent. He likes Lu Xueqi.

Mao Zijun as Yan Lie (颜烈) / Qin Wuyan (秦無炎)

Hundred Poison sect's disciple; Demon Faction's third young master who specializes in poison. He is said to be cold, cruel and calculative. He disguises himself as the guard Qin Wuyan to enter Yu Du City. He likes Bi Yao.

Tang Yixin as Tian Ling'er (田灵儿)

Tian Buyi and Su Ru's daughter. She is Zhang Xiaofan's first love, and would stand up for him when he was bullied. However, she likes Qi Hao. She is said to have a quirky and weird personality.

Jackson Yi as Xiao Qi (小七), a wild fox demon whom was saved by Zhang Xiaofan.

People of Noble Sect

Liu Xueyi as Xiao Yicai (蕭逸才), Reverend Daoxuan's disciple; a spy sent by Noble Sect to follow the Ghost King. As he drank the blood of the Heavenly Beast to enter the Demon Sect, he turns into a beast every Full Moon.

He Zhonghua as Reverend Daoxuan (道玄真人), 18th Chief of Noble Sect.

Lu Xingyu as Reverend Cangsong (蒼松道人), head of Mt. Longshou; actual identity is a spy / assassin under the Demon sect.

Huang Haibing as Wan Jianyi (萬劍一), mysterious old man residing at the Founder Shrine.

Xie Ning as Tian Buyi (田不易), head of Mt. Dazhu; Zhang Xiaofan's teacher and Ling Er's father.

Yang Mingna as Su Ru (蘇茹), Tian Buyi's wife and Ling Er's mother.

Chen Zeyu as Qi Hao (齐昊), Reverend Cangsong's senior disciple.

Zong Fengyan as Zeng Shuchang (曾書常), head of Mt. Fenghui; Shu Shu's father.

Jiang Hong as Shui Yue (水月), head of Mt. Xiaozhu.

Zheng Guolin as Song Daren (宋大仁), Tian Buyi's senior disciple.

Ma Chengcheng as Wen Min (文敏), disciple of Mt. Xiaozhu and Song Daren's wife.

Ge Ziming as Shang Zhengliang (商正梁), head of Mt. Zhaoyang

People of Ghost King Faction

Fu Chengpeng as Archlord Ghost King (鬼王), head of the Ghost King faction and Bi Yao's father.

Yang Xuwen as Qing Long (青龍)

Xiong Naijin as You Ji (幽姬)

Liu Can as Mr Ghost (鬼先生) / Ghost Doctor (鬼医); a mysterious figure who helped Zhang Xiaofan defeat the Ghost King.

People of Hundred Poison Sect

Wang Weihua as Poison Deity (毒神)

Liu Can as Bai Duzi (百毒子)

Guo Xin as Sucking Blood Old Demon (吸血老妖)

People of He Huan Sect

Jiao Junyan as Jin Ping'er (金瓶兒), also known as Master Miao; Lin Jingyu's love interest.

Zeng Li as Lady Jinling (金鈴夫人)

People of Tian Yin Pavilion

Li Chenghao as Ah Xiang (阿相), Zhang Xiaofan's good friend; likes Ding Ling.

Wu Yue as Pu Zhi (普智), the man who killed Zhang Xiaofan's entire village; and later passed on Tian Yin Sect's hidden skill to him.

Guo Kaimin as Pu Hong (普泓)

Liu Bo as Pu Kong (普空)

People of Lian Xie Tang

Chen Chuang as Yegou Daoren (野狗道人)

Zhang Fan as Elder Nian (年老大)

Xiu Qing as Heixin Laoren (黑心老人)

People of Fen Xiang Valley

Liang Jingxian as Yan Hong (燕虹)

Qin Shuo as Li Xun (李洵)

Chang Cheng as Shang Guan Ce (上官策)

Yang Zihua as Yun Yilan (雲易嵐)

People of Yu Du City

Yang Guang as Wei Jing (卫琼), Zeng Shushu and Li Xun's grandfather; chief of Yu Du City.

Zhang Weina as Ding Ling (丁玲)

Zhao Chulun as Chief of Guan Xing Mt (觀星崖崖主), an immortal who saved Zhao Xiaofan when he was poisoned.

People of Fox Mountain

Shu Chang as Xiao Bai (小白), nine-tailed heavenly fox; Liu Wei's mother and Xiao Chi's best friend.

Wang Wanjuan as Xiao Chi (小癡), Bi Yao's mother.

Ren Jialun as Liu Wei (六尾), six-tailed fox demon; Xiao Qi's brother.

Tang Jingmei as San Wei (三尾), Liu Wei's wife.

People of Chang Sheng Hall / Dong Hai

Qian Yongcheng as Yu Yangzi (玉陽子)

Yang Meizhen as Meng Ji (孟骥)

Zhang Xin as Situ Xiao (司徒逍)

Hua Jiao as Yun Shu (云舒)

Others

Bai Xue as Xiao Huan (小環), Zhou Yixian's granddaughter; she has a crush on Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhao Lixin as Zhou Yixian (周一仙), a mysterious man who possesses the long-lost skill of Qing Yun sect.

Tong Mengshi as Shi Tou (石頭)

Production

The Golden Horse Award winner, Shirley Chan, serves as its stylist. Fang Sizhe serves as the clothes designer, and the Hong Kong Film Award laureate, Bill Lui, serves as the art director. The production of special effects is handled by South Korean IOFX Company.

Casting

On September 24, 2015, singers Roy Wang, Wang Junkai, and Jackson Yi from TFBOYS were cast for the drama. On December 5, actress Yang Zi attended the commencement ceremony, and the producers announced that she had joined the cast as Lu Xueqi, one of the two leading actresses. On December 19, Wu Yue, Zhao Lixin and Chen Chuang joined the cast during filming.

On January 12, 2016, the television series's official Sina Weibo announced that Li Yifeng had been signed on to star as Zhang Xiaofan, the leading actor in Noble Aspirations. On January 26, it announced that Zanilia Zhao has just landed the lead role as Bi Yao in the television series, after previous casting rumors of Angelababy in the same role.

Filming

Principal photography started on 5 December 2015 at Hengdian Studios and wrapped up on 29 April 2016. The scenes of the drama were shot in various parts of China, such as Yunnan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Henan. The total investment of the television series reaches ¥ 60 million, with majority of the budget going to special effects.

The scenes set in Qingyun Mountain (青雲山) were filmed in Laojun Mountain, in Luanchuan County, Henan province. The monkey groups scenes in the Qingyun Mountain were filmed in Huangshan, Anhui province. The scenes set in Heyang Castle (河陽城) were filmed in Hengdian World Studios, in Dongyang, Zhejiang province. The Liuboshan scenes (流波山) were filmed in Erhai Lake, Yunnan.

Music

The television series's soundtrack is composed by Japanese composers Ikuro Fujiwara and Seikou Nagaoka, who have previously worked on the film Painted Skin (2008) and Dr. Jin respectively.

Critical response

When the television series premiered on July 31, it received mainly positive reviews. NetEase, one of the three biggest Chinese portals on web, made a positive comment in its report: "The circumstances are rigorous, the plot is rich, the building structures are spectacular. Rolling green peaks, vast blue skies, towering cliffs, the whole group of buildings towering rigorous, magnificent, distance, clouds shrouded, just like the Heavenly Palace."

Commercial reception

The drama was a commercial success. It achieved a market share of 7.075 for its first two episodes, which is the highest record held by a Chinese drama for the year 2016. In October 2016, it surpassed 20 billion views, becoming the third drama to do so after The Journey of Flower and The Legend of Mi Yue. In December 2016, it became the most viewed drama online with over 25 billion views.